BBC forced to add disclaimer to Dragons' Den episode over lack of scientific-backing for product

The BBC were forced to add a disclaimer to an episode of Dragons’ Den episode over a lack of scientific backing for a product.

Last night’s (4 April) episode saw a range of hopefuls seeking investment from the legendary Dragons for their businesses, including the likes of a drinks company, a foot-playing drum kit and a nail painting tool.

And it also saw a company promising to boost people’s libido.

In case you’re not versed in that official vocab, let’s clear it up first – that’s your sex drive. Wesley Pierce and fiancée Lottie took the supplements into the Den, offering a 10 percent stake in return for an investment.

And the bloke wasn’t shying away from chatting about their own lives in the pitch, as he explained that during the coronavirus lockdowns, their relationship had taken a hit in the bedroom.

“We found that we were not in the mood as much as normal,” he said.

BBC

But they realised they weren’t alone and created Wiggy – drinkable supplements to get that drive back up. The pair searched online ‘to find natural ingredients’ to help libido.

“We realised that we really needed some expert help with this, so we found a local company, to create the supplement for us, from the ground up,” Wesley explained.

Wiggy launched in September 2022, and offers boxes tailored each to men and women. They say it’s sold about 450 units, turning over £13,000 in sales via its online site. However, the Dragons weren’t totally convinced by the company.

There was some questioning about the science behind these ‘libido boosting’ supplements as the pros in the chairs were disappointed with the lack of expert research provided.

And even Wesley admitted some of the decisions were made based on their own personal preferences. Steven Bartlett asked: “How can you prove that it helps?”

BBC

With the businessman simply saying: “Well, I can just tell you that it helped me, and we've had a lot of great feedback from our customers.”

But Steven pushed for more, asking: “Have you done any sort of quantitative research or primary research?”

And Wesley admitted: “No, we're still so early days, that we're still finding our feet with the brand.” He also confessed that it could just be a ‘placebo effect’, while saying the ingredients are mostly vitamins with parts that aren’t ‘necessarily scientifically backed’.

Touker Suleyman said: “If you'd come in, and said this is what I'm qualified to do, this is scientifically proven, I can back it up. You'd have a bit more creditability.”

Unsurprisingly, the Dragons weren’t so interested in investing as users noticed the warning placed by the BBC.

During the Wiggy pitch, a health disclaimer read on screen: “Always consult a medical professional before using dietary supplements if you have any health concerns.”